"It is the right of everyone to live freely and celebrate who they are without persecution." Marquita Thomas is a Los Angeles-based activist and marketing strategist who formed "Out & About Events for Women" in 2002. As the leader...

"Transgenders are extremely misunderstood and discriminated against. I am committed to giving greater visibility and voice to my transgender brothers and sisters." Karina Samala is currently the producer of the Queen USA and Queen of the Universe Transgender Beauty...

"I am proud to say that I survived many negative experiences, and proud that I was able to turn those negative experiences into advocacy programs that will help others." James W. Gilliam is the deputy executive director of the...

"It has been my privilege and honor to work in helping to transform and create an acceptance for the contributions of openly gay leadership in non-LGBT movements and organizations. I share this recognition with my LGBT brothers and sisters...

"As minorities within a minority community, the interests of LGBT people of color are often overlooked. I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to participate in organizations that help to represent and protect those interests." Alex H. Fukui has...

Find out what's happening in the lives of our former Local Heroes since they received their award! And if you're a Local Hero, we'd love to hear from you, too! To keep in touch with the Local Heroes online community, contact Amanda Martin at amartin@kcet.org or call 747-201-5727.

On Veterans Day 2014, we revisited four of our Local Heroes whose service to our country continues to this day. Happily several of them have recently been in touch to let us know what has happened in their lives since receiving their Local Heroes award. Their replies are – unsurprisingly-– inspiring.

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